American Idol Season 9 Top 12 Guys

Day Two of the live shows and this time it was the turn of the top 12 guys. Ryan opened the show with a little poke at Simon.

Get ready. Are we ready? Are you ready? Let’s go! THIS is American … Simon, stop talking!

This time Ryan was wearing a white shirt with a couple of buttons undone and a grey suit with a pocket square … the suit looks great on him though I preferred what he wore yesterday because he always looks smokin in black.

Simon was also wearing a white shirt, with several butons undone, which Ryan mentioned in his introduction: “Simon, missing a button, Cowell”. Simon actually looked quite smart. For him.

Ryan asked the judges to give the contestants some advice. Simon interrupted Kara’s comment about finding a place that feels safe to you to helpfully suggest, “like Little House on the Prairie,” but his own advice was a bit more blunt: “if you lose it tonight or forget the words, your career is over.” Ryan took that as his cue to bring out the first victim, laughing as he said, “on that fantastic chipper note, who’s ready to get it going?”

Todrick Hall sang his own version of Kelly Clarkson’s Since You’ve Been Gone. Ellen liked his performance but wasn’t so sure about the chorus, Randy told him not to obliterate a song so much, Kara said to pull it back a bit next time, and Simon thought it was a crazy arrangement and verging on stupid. Ryan invited Todrick to respond to Simon’s accusations of murder then invited America to vote for creativity.

Simon thought Aaron Kelly’s performance of Rascal Flatts’ Here Comes Goodbye was quite good, but said he looked embarrassed to be there, Kara said he has great raw natural talent, Randy thought there were a couple of pitchy moments but agreed with the others, Ellen loved how humble he is.

Ryan was all compliments for Aaron too saying that he has an incredibly strong voice for a guy that size (I hadn’t noticed until that point how much shorter than Ryan Aaron is!) Ryan disagreed with the judges about Aaron’s confidence, “he was winking at the chicks when his tape was rolling, up here showing the dimples!” Every time I see Aaron, I think he looks like a young Michael Schumacher — particularly when he smiles.

Next to sing was Jermaine Sellers who took on Get Here by Oleta Adams. Ellen is a fan but didn’t think he was feeling the song, Randy thought he was trying to do too much vocally, Kara told him to make the runs meaningful, and Simon likened it to something a fifty-year-old would request in a cocktail bar. Ryan asked Ellen about a comment contradicting Simon, then asked Simon to explain his look because his smile and his frown are the same! When Ryan brought Michael from the band out, Simon asked him to explain who he is … Ryan pointed out he’d just appeared in the VT, telling Simon, “pay attention to your monitor there, pretty boy!”

After a break, Ryan was in the red room sitting next to Tim Urban, who got to pimp the coke cup. Ryan asked Tim why he kept his call back to Idol a secret from his family. Tim sang One Republic’s Apologize. Simon thought the performance proved they were right not to put him through to the original 24, Kara thought he was buried under the beat, Randy thought it was all wrong, Ellen said it was smart to choose a song people like and people will vote for him because he’s adorable. Ryan asked Tim to defend himself to the people at home.

Joe Muñoz sang You and I Both by Jason Mraz. Ellen thought he looked comfortable on stage, Randy didn’t think it was the perfect song choice, Kara thought he’d been the best so far and Simon thought it was “all a bit limp. A bit forgettable. Rather like our host…” Ryan ignored him, and went to Ellen instead.

Next was Tyler Grady singing American Woman from The Guess Who. As Tyler stopped singing the camera went to Simon, who winked at someone to his left then seemed confused about whose turn it was to speak. He said people would remember the performance for the wrong reasons, Kara thought he needed to bring it to this decade, Randy said it was style over substance and Ellen thought he lacked a little charisma. Tyler looked to Ryan for help, but when Ryan asked where he’d go he replied he’d have to go to the mall!

Lee Dewyze sang Chasing Cars by Snow Patrol. Ellen thought it was a good song choice, Randy didn’t like the song for him, Kara agreed with Randy, but Simon totally disagreed calling it the best performance so far. Ryan asked Randy and Kara what they were not hearing that Ellen and Simon were, and asked Lee what he was feeling on the stage. When he answered, “it feels like I don’t ever want to lose this feeling”, Ryan laughed, calling him a charmer.

John Park’s version of Billie Holiday’s God Bless The Child left Simon flat. Kara agreed, Randy thinks he has a voice, and Ellen liked the performance but didn’t think it was the right song. Ryan asked John why he chose the song. John said it has meaning because of his parents, because money is something they have to worry about and that song explains why he’s there. Ryan replied, “I thought you were going to say it’s all for the money!”

Michael Lynche sang This Love by Maroon 5 and played guitar. Ellen thought there were a few pitch problems but he has a great personality, Randy liked the energy he brought, Kara thought there were some good things about it but he could challenge himself more, Simon said he’s like the support act before the main act. Ryan asked Michael if he had any final thoughts for Simon or wanted to just go hang with him. Michael flexed his muscles and Simon warned him not to mess with him!

Simon could be seen leaving his seat as Ryan cut to a break and when they came back Ryan was sitting next to Kara and Simon was standing awkwardly alongside him, rolling his sleeves up and sticking a hand in his pocket. Ryan asked Simon who he’s always winking at. Simon replied, “my girlfriend,” then added to camera, “thank you for making Idol a part of your evening,” as Ryan mouthed “woah!”

Ryan introduced Alex Lambert’s VT then quipped to Simon, “I thought you were taller!” After the clip, Simon put in his bid for ‘least sincere introduction of the year’ and Alex took to the stage to sing James Morrison’s Wonderful World as we saw Simon recover his seat on the judges’ platform. I could get used to Ryan sitting there! I truly believe Ryan would make a fantastic judge, particularly in the X Factor format with mentoring, but I don’t think Simon should give up the ‘day job’. He’s so awkward standing up! But thanks Simon for showing everyone that Ryan’s job isn’t easy — he just makes it look that way. Simon was back in his comfort zone when Alex finished, telling him he didn’t know who was happier for it to end, him or Alex, because it was so uncomfortable. Kara wanted to give Alex a hug and sees a lot of potential, Randy loves his tone and Ellen said she likes that he’s holding onto the mullet … then compared him to an unripe banana. Ryan asked Alex how many times he’s performed in front of people, so we all now know that he’s much less experienced at this than many of the others.

Casey James sang Heaven by Bryan Adams. The judges were still teasing Kara about her Casey crush, Ellen joked that she could feel Kara undressing him with her eyes but apologised for the distraction, Randy liked him too, Kara recovered herself to say he’s ear candy as well as eye candy and Simon said he chose the right song, before taking a poke at ‘the cougar’. After giving Casey a chance to respond to the judges’ comments, Ryan said he’d looked ahead at the schedule: tomorrow is the results and Friday is Kara’s HR meeting.

Last to sing was Andrew Garcia with Fall Out Boy’s Sugar, We’re Going Down. Simon had been looking forward to him more than anyone else but was disappointed, Kara likes him and wants him to stay around for many weeks, Randy thought it was a little try-hard and Ellen thought ‘Straight Up’ will carry him for a while. Ryan asked about his approach to choosing this song in comparison with Straight Up.

I was mostly underwhelmed with the performances — tomorrow’s show should be great though as Kris Allen and Allison Iraheta will be performing. My favourite of the guys is Todrick, who wasn’t great because he overcooked it, but I think he showed huge potential. I agreed with the judges about Andrew Garcia, but hopefully he’ll be back stronger next week (anyone else think he sounds like Sting?) I sort of agree with Simon about Lee Dewyze too though I didn’t enjoy his performance, and I think both John Park and Big Mike would be okay if they could escape from blandness. Too many to choose from for bottom two, and I think the girls are definitely stronger (which I didn’t think I’d say after last night’s show), but I think I’d send home Jermaine Sellers and Tim Urban based on the performances.